Fire-escape.



H. G; LANSDBN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.21,1910.

Patented June 13, 1911 "ear onto.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH C. LANSDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cookeville, in the county of Putnam, State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fire escapes, of the class wherein a flexible element, such as a rope, is employed, and adapted to be connected at one end in the room and hangs therefrom alongside the building to enable the occupant of the room to descend, and has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and increase the efliciency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable device of this character which may be folded in a valise or trunk and quickly arranged in position for use when required.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claim; and, in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a view of the device applied, Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the upper end of the improved device. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the lower or free end of the device. Fig. lis a transverse section on the line 14 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the supporting hook detached.

The improved device comprises in gen eral a rope, represented as a whole at 10, of any suitable length and of any suitable size or strength, and may be of any suitable material, but will preferably be of plaited hemp or like material, to provide the maxi mum of strength with the minimum of weight.

The rope 10 is provided with stop blocks 11, at suitable intervals, of any suitable size, and spaced any suitable distance apart, and prevented from longitudinal movement of the rope by tying knots, represented at 12, in the rope at the pointswhere the blocks are to be located. The blocks will generally be located about 15 inches apart, but this Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 21, 1910.

Patented June 13, 1911.

Serial No. 545,146.

distance may be varied if preferred. The blocks may be of any suitable material, but will generally be of wood and about one and one-half inches in diameter and preferably oval longitudinally, as shown.

At one end the rope 10 is doubled upon itself to form a relative long loop 13 and a band 14: secured around the terminal of the loop and likewise around the adjacent body of the rope to form another smaller loop 15 through which a metal ring 16 is passed, the ring providing means for suspending the rope from a suitable support. A shorter section 23 of rope is also carried by the band 14, the object to be hereinafter explained.

The band 1 1 is rigidly secured in position, and grasps the rope members with sufficient firmness to prevent any slipping of the parts therethrough. Near its opposite end the rope 10 is doubled upon itself to form aloop and a metal band 17 passed around the bight portion of the fold, and another metal band 18 likewise passed around the rope at its terminal and also around the body of the rope adjacent to the terminal. The bands 17-18 are firmly secured in place so that the rope members will not slip therethrough, and are spaced apart to form a loop 19 through which a strap 20 is passed. The strap is provided with a buckle 21 so that an adjustable loop is produced, as shown. I

If the device is to be located permanently in a room the rope 10 will correspond in length to the distance which the window or other opening through which the device is to be employed is spaced above the ground, and will vary in length to correspond to the floors of the building, as will be obvious. If the device is to be carried about by persons who are to occupy a room temporarily, the length of the rope will correspond to the highest room or floor in the building, and it is not desired therefore to limit the length of the rope in any manner.

The ring 16 may be attached in any suitable manner or to any suitable fastening device, but when employed as a part of the furniture of a room, a suitable hook, repre sented as a whole at 22, will be attached to the window casing or frame or to the lintel portion of the window frame in position to receive the ring 16. Then thus em ployed the loop 13 will constitute an im portant and convenient adjunct to the de vice, as the person who is to use the rope grasps the loop 13 when first using the device to enable him to lower himself from the window, and place himself in position to engage the body of the loop 10, without danger of slipping therefrom. The loop thus imparts confidence to the user of the device, and will have a tendency to prevent nervous people from falling when first at tempting to use the device. The strap 20 is also a useful adjunct of the improved de vice as it may be employed as a loop to be passed around the waists of women and children and enable them to be lowered from the window, and the-n the last person down can use the loop as a means for descent. The strap 20 will also be found useful for lowering small trunks or valises, from the window previous to the descent of the person who desires to escape.

The coupling strap ltl718 whereby the parts of the rope are coupled together are also an important feature of the invention and materially simplifies and improves the construction, and increases its etficiency and utility, as the straps form effectual coupling means between the parts, and are easily applied, and firmly secure the parts in position.

When the device is to be carried from place to place in a valise or other receptacle an additional section 23 of the rope is coupled to the main rope by the band 14, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to enable the device to be attached to any object in the room other than the hook 22, as for instance around the post of a bedstead or the like, and to assist in thus fastening the rope the latter is provided with a terminal hook 24c.

lVh-at is claimed is A fire escape, comprising a rope with spaced hand holds said rope being looped near one end through a supporting ring and having this end return bent as a hand loop, and a band securing the two members of said hand loop to the parallel extensions of the ring engaging loop.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two wltnesses.

HUGH C. LANSDEN.

Witnesses:

J. WV. RICHARDSON, OTTO GRIMsLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). C. 

